Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Monday reaffirmed China's position on the United States' arms sales to Taiwan, urging the U.S. to immediately correct its error by revoking its arms sales decision.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (1st R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (1st L) in New York, the United States, Sept. 26, 2011. Yang was in New York to attend the general debate of the 66th session of the General Assembly. [Xinhua]

Yang made the remarks when meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here on the sidelines of the general debate at the UN General Assembly. Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Zhang Yesui, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Li Baodong, Untied States' UN envoy Susan Rice and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Esther Brimmer attended the meeting.

Yang said the wrong decision by the U.S. gravely violated the principles of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and August 17 Communique, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously undermined China's security, its endeavor to achieve peaceful reunification and the China-U.S. relations.

"China urged the U.S. to attach great importance to China's solemn position and take it very seriously, correct the mistake of selling weapons to Taiwan by revoking the above-mentioned wrong decision, eliminate its negative influence, stop arms sales to Taiwan and U.S.-Taiwan military contact, and take real actions to uphold the larger interest of China-U.S. relations," Yang said.

Regardless of China's repeated solemn representation, the U.S. administration announced last Wednesday a new arms package worth 5. 852 billion U.S. dollars to Taiwan, which included the so-called " upgrading" of F-16A/B fighter jets.

Clinton said the U.S. is firmly committed to expanding, deepening and enhancing positive, comprehensive and cooperative relations with China.

The U.S. adheres to one China policy and pays much attention to and seriously treat China's position and concerns about the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, she said.

"The U.S. welcomes and supports the peaceful development of relations between China's mainland and Taiwan, and will continue to be devoted to promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits," she said. "The U.S. is willing to properly handle the differences between the two countries and avoid disrupting cooperation between the two sides."

They also exchanged views on other issues of China-U.S. relations as well as current international and regional concerns. They both agreed to work together to make a success of the upcoming G20 summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal leaders' meeting and East Asia Summit with a view to promoting world economic recovery and cooperation in the Asia- Pacific and eastern Asian region.

Moreover, the two countries also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination, making due contributions to maintain world peace and promote common development.

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